"You've got to get them to focus on the next game, the next play, the
next day, the next practice so they don't get affected by the external
factors so you can continue to improve as a team," he said. "That's a real critical
factor. Mindset is so important in this day and age and this game."

The
BCS standings are derived from a three-part equation. One-third of it
comes from the USA Today/Coaches poll, one-third from the Harris
Interactive Poll and one-third from the average rankings of six computer
polls.

The Crimson Tide had an average ranking of third in the six computer polls. Two of the computer polls had Alabama first while two others had it third, one had it fourth and another had it fifth.

Alabama's score of .976 is nearly seven one-hundredths of a point higher than Florida's (.909). Oregon (.899), Kansas State (.896) and Notre Dame (.877) are in a tight-knit pack.

The Crimson Tide has been the unanimous No. 1 team in the Associated Press' top 25 for three consecutive weeks, but that poll does not factor into the BCS' equation.

Saban was asked what he would like to see improve during the second half of the season.

"The big thing is balance on offense," he said. "When we're able to run the
ball and throw the ball effectively, we're a pretty good offensive team.

"At times, we've been good on special teams, but we gave up some plays
on special teams in this last game, so that's something we constantly
want to try to improve on."

The
Crimson Tide opened as the No. 2 team in last year’s BCS rankings, fell
to third after it lost to LSU during the regular season and then hopped
back up to No. 2 after Oklahoma State lost to Iowa State in Week 11.
BCS rankings are only used to set up the national championship game and
other BCS bowls; there are no BCS rankings after the bowls.

Alabama
hasn’t been the No. 1 team in the BCS rankings since it beat top-ranked
Florida in the 2009 SEC championship game to advance to the BCS title
game. The Crimson Tide was No. 1 for a five-week stretch during the 2008
season until it lost to Florida in the SEC championship game.

Saban had a parting shot for the ESPN crew at the end of his interview.

"I really envy you guys sitting there trying to figure out who's going to
win the BCS and all of that," he said. "The only predictable thing about
college football is that it's unpredictable.